Actus Primus.
Our heauenly blessynge, be with you euerychone
Omnes simul.
All prayse and glorye, to your maiestie alone.
Christi lex.
Here styll to tarye, I thynke it be your mynde.
Nature Lex.
My offyce ye knowe, is to instructe Mankynde.
Moseh lex.
Than God be with you, we leaue you here behynde.
¶ Finit Actus Primus.
¶ Incipit Actus secundus.
Exeunt.
Nature lex.
THe lawe in effect [...], is a teacher generall
What is to be done, and what to be layde asyde
But as touchynge me▪ the fyrste lawe naturall
A knowledge I am, whom God in Man doth hyde
In his whole workynge, to be to hym a gyde
To honour his God, and seke his neyghbours helth
A great occasyon, of peace, and publyque welth.
A sore charge I haue, Mankynde to ouerse
And to instructe hym, his lorde God to obaye
That lorde of heauen graunt, I maye so do my duetie
That he be pleased and Man brought to a staye
His bry [...]tle nature, his slyppernes to waye
Moche doth prouoke me, but yf God set to his hande
He shall do full well, for none maye hym withstande.
Infidelitas.
¶ He cōmeth in syngynge.
[Page] [...]Brom, brom, brom, brom, brom. Bye brom bye [...]Bye. bromes for shoes and powchrynges, botes and [...]busayus for newe bromes. Brom, brom, brom.
Marye God gyue ye good euen
And the holy man saynt Steuen
Sende ye a good newe yeare
I wolde haue brought ye the paxe
Or els an ymage of waxe
If I had knowen ye here.
I wyll my selfe so handle
That ye shall haue a candle
Whan I come hyther agayne
At this your sodayne mooyon
I was i [...] suche deuocyon
I had nere broke a vayne.
Nature lex.
That myght haue done ye smart [...].
Infidelitas.
No, no it was but a fart
For pastyme of my hart
I wolde ye had it forsoth
In syroppe or in sowse
But for noyaunce of the howse
For easement of your toth,
Nowe haue I my dreame in dede
God sende me wele to spede,
And swete saynt Antony
[Page]I thought I shulde mete a knaue
And nowe that fortune I haue
Amonge this company.
Nature lex
Why dost thou call me knaue?
Infidelitas.
I sayde I wolde be your slaue
Yf your grace wolde me haue
And do your worke anon.
I wolde so rubbe your botes
The rofe shulde from the rotes
Whan ye shulde do them on.
Nature lex.
Thou art dysposed to mocke
Sone mayst thou haue a knocke
If thou with me so game.
Infidelitas.
Your mouth shall kysse my docke
Your tonge shall it vnlocke,
But I saye what is your name?
Nature lex.
I am the lawe of Nature
Infidelitas.
I thought so by your stature
And by your auncyent gature
Ye were of suche a [...]ature
Whan I fyrste hearde ye speake.
Ye commoned with God lately
And nowe ye are his bayly
Mankynde to rule dyscretly
Welcome sy [...] huddyp [...]ke.
Nature lex.
If thou vse suche vyllanye.
[Page]I shall dysplease the trulye.
Infidelitas.
By the masse, I the defye
With thy whole Cukoldrye
And all that with the holde.
Nature lex.
Why doest thou me blaspheme
And so vngodly deme?
Infidelitas.
For by this blessed boke
I wende ye had ben a Cooke
And that made me so bolde,
For a Cooke ones, hauynge age
With a face demure and sage
And auncyent to beholde.
As you haue here in place
With a bearde vpon your face
What is he but a Cooke olde?
Nature lex.
Ye are dysposed to dallye.
To leape and ouersallye
The compasse of your wytte
I counsayle ye yet in season
Somwhat to folowe reason
And gnawe vpon the bytte.
Infidelitas.
Then after our great madnesse
Let vs fall to some sadnesse
And tell me what ye entende.
Nature lex.
God sent me vnto Man
To do the best I can
To cause hym to amende.
[Page]Suche creatures as want reason
My rules obeye eche season
And that in eueryborder
The sonne and mone doth moue
With the other bodyes aboue
And neuer breke theyr order.
The trees and herbes doth growe
The sea doth ebbe and flowe
And varyeth not a nayle
The floodes and wholsom sprynges
With other naturall thynges
Theyr course do neuer fayle.
The beastes and byrdes engender
So do the fys [...]hes tender
Accordynge to theyr kynde
Alonely man doth fall
From good lawes naturall
By a frowarde wycked mynde.
Infidelitas.
Nowe wyll I proue ye a lyar
Next cosynto a fryar
And on the gall ye rubbe
Ye saye they folowe your lawe
And varye not a strawe,
Whiche is a tale of a tubbe.
The sunne ones in the clyppes
Awaye the clearenes slyppes
And darkened is the daye
Of the planettes influence
[Page]Aryseth the pestylence.
To many ones decaye.
Doth not the sea sorage
That none can it aswage,
And swallowe in towne and streate
The ayre whiche gyueth breath
Someyme infecteth to death
By his most pestylent heate.
The beastes of vndemure
Whiche were lefte to mannes cure
Wyll hym somtyme deuoure
Thus are you rulers forgote
As thynges of slendre note
In Creatures daye and houre.
Nature lex.
It is the wyll of God
To vse them as a rod
Of his iust punysshment
Whan Man doth not regarde
The lorde nor his rewarde
Nor to his lawes consent.
They neuer are so ronnysh
But whan God doth Man ponnysh
For his vnhappynesse
From God they neuer fall.
Nor from lawes naturall
Doynge his busynesse.
Infidelitas.
Nature lex.
God hath appoynted me
Mankynde to ouerse
And in his harte to syt
To teache hym for to knowe
In the Creatures hyghe and lowe
His gloryous maiestie
And on his name to call,
Or power celestiall,
In his necessytie.
To thynke hym euerlas [...]ynge
And wonderfull in workynge
And that he createth all
Both gouerne and conserue
From them he neuer swerue
That to suche fayth wyll fall.
Infidelitas
In dede here is good sporte.
But why do you resorte
Unto this present place?
Nature lex.
Man alwayes to exhort
To seke all helth and confort,
Of the onely God of grace.
First in the hartes reioyce
And than with open voyce
To worshyp hym alone
Knowledgynge his deytie
His power and eternytie
Whan he shall make his mone.
Infidelitas.
Nature lex.
What wylte thou kepe me fro?
Tell me ere thou farther go
Me thynke thou art in a dreame.
Infidelitas.
From causynge of Mankynde
To gyue to God his mynde
Or his obedyence.
Nature lex.
What is thy name? tell me.
Infidelitas.
Marye Infydelyte
Whiche neuer wyll agree
To your benyuolence.
Nature lex.
Thou canste not kepe me from man.
Infidelitas.
Yet I wyll do the best I can
To trouble ye nowe and than
That ye shall not preuayle
I wyll cause ydolatrye
And moste vyle Sodomye
To worke so vngracyouslye
Ye shall of your purpose fayle.
Nature lex.
I defye the wycked fynde
With thy whole vene mouse kynde
God putteth now in my mynde
To fle thy companye.
Infidelitas.
Ye are so blessed a Saynt
And your selfe so well can paynt
That I must me aquaynt
With you no remedye.
Nature lex.
Auoyde thou cruell enemye
I wyll none of the truelye
But shurne thy companye
As I wolde the deuyll of hell.
Exit.
Infidelitas.
And are ye gone indede?
Small wyttam be your spede.
Except ye take good hede
I wyll be next of your counsell.
Now wyll I worke suche masterye
By craftes and su [...]yle polycye
The lawe of nature to poyson
With pestylent ydolatrye
And with most stynkynge sodomye
That he shall haue no foyson
Where are these vyllen knaues?
The deuyls owne kytchyu slaues
That them I can not se
I coniure you both here
And charge ye to appere
Lyke two knaues as yebe.
Monachu [...]
Sodomismus.
Ambo is a name full cleane
Knowe ye not what I meane?
And are so good a clarke.
Infidelitas.
Intrantsu [...]t.
Sodomismus
Haue in than at a dasshe
With swasshe mery annetswasshe
Yet may I not be to rasshe
For my holy orders sake.
Necromantia.
Idololatria.
Nor I sonne by my trouth
Tha cau [...]a [...]orage of slouth
And suche a comberouse cought.
Yeh wote not what to do.
Infidelitas.
At Christmas and at Paske
Ye maye daunce the deuyll a maske
Whyles his great cawdron pla [...]e
you suche a pretye mynyon
And you nowe in relygyon
Suche two I neuer sawe
Is not thy name Idolatrye▪
Sodomismus.
Yes, an wholsom woman verelye,
And w [...]lls [...]n [...] in phylosophye
Mennes fortunes she can tell
She can by sayenge her Aue marye
And by other charmes of sorcerye
Ease men of the loth ake by and bye
Yea, and farche the deuyll from hell
She an c [...]nyike the Cowe and hunte the foxe
And helpe men of the ague and poxe
So they bryng money to the boxe
Whan they to her make mdne.
[Page]She can fatche agayne all that is loste
And drawe drynke out of a rotten post
Without the helpe of the holye Ghost
In workynge she is alone.
Infidelitas.
What somtyme thou wert an he.
Idololatria.
Yea, but nowe yeh am a she
And a good mydwyf [...] perde
Yonge chyldren can Icharme▪
With whysperynges and whysshynges
With crossynges and with kyssynges
With blasynges and with blessynges
That sprytes do them no harme.
Infidelitas.
Then art thou lyke to Clysthenes.
To Clodius and Euclides,
Sardinapalus and Hercules
Whiche them selues ofte transfourmed
Into a womans lykenes
With agylyte and quyckenes
But they had venus syckenes
As wryters haue declared.
Sodomismus.
Let her tell forth her matter.
Idololatria.
With holy oyle and water
I can so cloyne and clatter
That I can at the latter
Many sutelties contryue
I can worke wyles in battell
If I do ones but spattle
I can make corne and cattle
[Page]That they shall neuer thryue.
Whan ale is in the fat
If the Oruar please me nat
The cast shall fall downe flat
And neuer haue any strength
No man shall tonne nor bake
Nor meate in inseason make
If I agaynst hym take
But lose his labour at length.
Theyr welles I can vp drye
Ca [...]se trees and herbes to dye.
And slee all pullerye
Where as men doth me moue
I can make stoles to daunce,
And earthen pottes to praunce
That none shall them enhaunce
And do but cast my gloue.
I haue charmes for the plowghe
And also for the cowghe
She shall gyue mylke [...]nowghe
So longe as I am pleased
Apace the myl [...] shall go.
So shall the credle do
And the musterde querne also
No man therwith dyseased.
Infidelitas.
Than art thou for me fytte.
Sodomismus.
The woman hath a wytte
And by her gere can sytte.
[Page]Thoughe she be somwhat olde?
It is myne owne swete bullye
My muskyne and my mullye,
My gelouer and my cullye
Yea myne owne swete hart of Golde.
Infidelitas.
I saye yet not to bolde.
Idololatria.
Peace fondelinge, tusshe a button
Infidelitas.
What wylte thou fall to mutton?
And playe the hungrye glutton
Afore this company?
Ranke loue is full of heate
Where hungrye dogges lacke meate
They wyll durty pu [...]dynges eate
For want of befe and conye.
Heyghe mynyon for monye
As good is draffe as honye.
Whan the daye is whote and sonnye,
By the blessed rode of kent.
Sodomismus.
Saye forth your mynde good mother
For this man is none other
But our owne louynge brother
And is very well content.
Idololatria.
I neuer mysse but paulter
Our blessed ladyes psaulter
Before saynt Sauers aulter
With my bedes ones a daye
And this is my comoncast
[Page]To here Masse fyrste or last
And the holy frydaye fast
In good tyme mought I it faye.
With blessynges of Saynt Germyne
I wyll me so determyne
That neyther for nor vermyne
Shall do my chyckens harme
For your gese seke saynt Legearde
And for your duckes saynt Leonarde
For horse take Moyses yearde
There is no better charme.
Take me a napkyn folte
With the byas of a bolte
For the healynge of a [...]olte
No better thynge can be
For lampes and for bottes
Take me saynt Wylfrides knottes
And holy saynt Thomas lottes
On my lyfe I warrande ye.
For the cought take Iudas [...]are
With the parynge of a peare
And drynke them without feare
If ye wyll haue remedy
Thre syppes are for the hyckocke
And. vi. more for the chyckocke
Thus my prety pyckocke
Recouer by and by.
If ye can not slepe but slumber
Geue Otes vnto saynt Un [...]umber
[Page]And beanes in a certen number
Unto saynt Blase and saynt Blythe
Gyue onyons to saynt Cutlake
And garlycke to saynt Cyryake
If ye wyll shurne the heade ake.
Ye shall haue them at quene hythe.
A dramme of a shepes tyrdle
And good saynt trances gyrdle
With the hamlet of an hyr [...]le
Are wholsom for the pyppe
Besydes these charmes afore
I haue feates many more
That I kepe styll in store
Whom nowe I ouer hyppe.
Infidelitas.
It is a sporte I trowe
To heate howe she out blowe
Her witchecraftes on a rowe
By the Masse I must nedes smyle.
Nowe I praye the let me knowe
What sedes that thou canst sowe
Mankynde to ouerthrowe
And the lawe of nature begyle.
Sodomismus.
My selfe I so behaue
And am so vyle a knaue
As nature doth depraue
And vtterly abhore
I am suche a vyce truelye
As God in his great [...]rye
Dyd punysshe most t [...]ryblye
In Sodome and in Gomorr▪
[Page]In the flesshe I am a fyre
And suche a vyle desyre
As brynge men to the myre
Of fowle concupyscence.
We two togyther beganne
To sprynge and to growe in manne,
As Thomas of Aquyne scanne
In the fourth boke of his sentence.
I dwelt amonge the Sodomytes
The Beniamytes, and Madyanytes
And nowe the popysshe hypocrytes
Embrace me euery where
I am nowe become all spyrytuall
For the clergye at Rome and ouer all
For want of wyues to me doth fall
To God they haue no feare.
The chyldren of God I dyd so moue
That they the doughters of men dyd loue
Workyng suche wayes as dyd not behoue
Tyll the floude them ouer went.
With Noes son Cham I was half ioyned
Whan he is dronken father scorned
In the Sodomytes I also reygned.
Tyll the hande of God them brent.
I was with Man not vnacquaynted
Whan he on the grounde his increase shed
For me his bretherne Ioseph accused
As Genesis doth tell
Dauid ones warned all men of vs two.
Do not as mules and horses wyll do.
[Page]Confounded be they, that to ymages go
Those are the wayes to hell.
Both Esaye and Ezechiell
Both H [...]etemy and Daniell
Of vs the abhominacions tell
With the prophetes euerychou
For vs two God strake with fyre and water
With battayle, wt plages, & fereful matter
With paynefull er [...]l [...], than at the latter
Into Egipt and Babylon.
As Paule to the Romans testyfye
The gentyles after Idolatrye
Fell to suche be stiall Sodomye
That God dyd them forsake
Who foloweth vs as he confesse
The kyngdome of God shall neuer possesse
And as the Aparalyps expresse
Shall synke to the burnynge lake.
We made Thalon and Sophocles
Thamiras, Nero, Agathocles
Tiberius and Iristoteles
Themselues to vse vnnaturallye
I taught Aristo and Fuluius
Semiramis and Hortensius
Crathes Hyliscus, and Pontius
Beastes to abuse most monstrouslye.
Infidelitas.
Marrye thou art the deuyll hym selfe
Idololatria.
If ye knewe howe he coulde pelfe
[Page]Ye wolde saye he were suche an elfe
As none vnder heauen were els.
Infidelitas.
The fellawe is well decked
Dysgysed and well necked
Both knaue balde and pypecked
He lacketh nothynge but helpe.
Sodomismus.
In the fyrste age I beganne
And so perseuerde with manne
And styll wyll if I canne
So longe as he endure
If monkysshe sectes renue
And popysshe pre estes contynue
Whiche are of my retynue
To lyue I shall be sure.
Cleane Marryage they forbyd,
Yet can not theyr wayes be hyd,
Men knowe what hath betyd
Whan they haue ben in parell
Oft haue they buryed quycke
Suche as were neuer sycke
Full many a propre trycke
They haue to helpe theyr quarell.
In Rome to me they fall
Both Bysshope and Cardynall
Monke, fryer, pryest, and all
More ranke they are then antes
Example in hope Iulye
Whiche sought in his furye
Two laddes, and to vse them beastlye.
[Page]From the Cardynall of Nautes.
Infidelitas.
Well, you two are for my mynde
Steppe forth and do your kynde
Leaue neuer a poynt behynde
That maye corrupt in man
The lawe wrytte in his harte
In his flesshe, do thy part
Ad Sodo.
And his soule so pernart
Ad Idol.
Do thou the best thou can.
Here haue I pretye gynnes
Both brouches beades and pynnes
With suche as the people wynnes
Unto Idolatrye
Take thou part of thē here
Ad Idol.
Beades, rynges, and other gere
And shortely the be [...]ete
To deceyue Man properly
Take this same staffe and scryppe
With a God here of a chyppe
And good beldame forewarde hyppe
To set forth pylgremage
Ad Sodo
Set thou forth Sacramentalles
Saye dyrge, and synge tre [...]alles
Studye the popes Decretals
And myxt them with buggerage
Here is a stoale for the
A ghostly father to be
To here, Benedicite
A boxe of creame and oyle
[Page]Here is a purse of rellyckes
Ad Idol.
[...]agges, rotten boues, and styckes
A taper with other tryckes
Shewe them in euery soyle
Sodomismus.
I wyll corrupt Goddes Image
With mos [...]e vnlawfull vsage
And brynge hym into dottage
Of all concupyscence.
Idololatria,
Within the flesshe thou art
But I dwell in the hart.
And wyll the soule peruart
From Gods obedyence.
Infidelitas.
Spare none abhomynacion
Nor detestable fasshyon
That mannes ymagynacion
By wytte maye comprehende
To quycken our sprytes amonge
Synge nowe some metysonge
But let it not be longe
Leaste we to moche offende.
Post cantion [...]m, Infidelitas alta voce dicet. Oremus.
OMnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram formasti laicos, da quesumus, vt sicut corum sudoribus diuimus, ita corū vxoribus filiabus et domicellis perpetuo frui mereamur. Per domin [...] nostrum Papam,
Infidelitas.
Nowe are these horesons forth
It wyll be somwhat worth
To se howe they wyll worke
The one to poyson the hart
The other the outwarde parte
Ingeniously wyl lucke.
The lawe of Nature they wyll
Infect, corrupt and spyll
With theyr abhomynacion
Idolatrye with wyckednesse
And Sodomye with fylthynesse
To his most vtter dampnacion.
These two wyll hym so vse
Eche one in theyr abuse
And wrappe it in suche euyll
That by theyr wycked cast
He shall be at the last
A morsell for the deuyll.
Nowe vnderneth her wynges
Idolatrye hath kynges
With theyr No [...]ylytie
Both dukes, lordes, knyghtes and [...]arles
Fayre ladyes with theyr pearies
And the whole comynaltie.
Within the bownes of Sodomye
Doth dwell the spyrytuall clergye
Pope, Cardynall and pryest
Nonne, Chanon, Monke and fryer
With so many els as do desyre
[Page]To reygne vnder Antechrist.
Detestynge Matrymonye
They lyue abhomynablye,
And burne in carnall lust.
Shall I tell ye farther newes?
It Rome for Prelates are stewes
Of doth kyndes. This is iust.
The lawe of nature I thynke
Wyll not be able to wy [...]ke
Agaynst the assaultes of them
They hauynge so hygh prelates,
And so many gteat es [...]ates
From hens to Ierusalem.
Pause nowe a lytle whyle
Myne eares doth me begyle
If There not a sounde
Y [...]n folke hath sped I gesse
It is to by the Messe
Awaye nowe wyll I round [...].
Exit
Nature lex.
I thynke ye maruayle, to se such altera [...]ion
At this tyme in me, whom God lefte here so pure
O [...] me it cometh not, but of mannes operacion
Whom dayly the deuyll, to great synne doth allure
And his nature is full bryttle and vnsure
By hym haue I gote this fowle dysease of bodye
And as ye se here, am nowe throwen in a leprye.
I wrought in his hart, as God bad tr [...]estlye.
Hym oft prouokynge, to loue God ouer all
[Page]With the inner powers, but that false Idolatrye
Hath hym peruerted, by slayghtes dyabolycall
And so hath Sodomye, throughe his abuses carnall
That he is nowe loste, offendynge without measure
And I corrupted to my most hyghe dyspleasure.
I abhorre to tell, the abusyous bestyall
That they dayly vse, whiche boast theyr chastytie
Some at the aulter, to incontyuencye fall
In confessyon some, full beastly occupyed be
Amonge the close Nonnes, reygneth this enormytie
Suche chyldren s [...]eythey, as they chaunce for to haue
And in theyr preuyes, prouyde them of theyr graue.
Ye Christen rulers, se ye for this a waye
Be not illuded, by false hypocrysye
By the stroke of God, the worlde wyll els decaye
Permyt prestes rather, Gods lawfull remedye
Than they shulde i [...]c [...]r [...], most bestyall Sodomye
Regarde not the pope, nor yet his whorysshe kyngdom
For he is the master, of Gomor and of Sodome
With Man haue I ben, which hath me thus defyled
With Idolatrye, and vncleane Sodomye
And worthy I am, from God to be exyled
Pytie me yet lorde of thy moste bounteous mercye
I wyll forth and mourne, tyll thousende remedye
Promyse haste thou made, to a gloryous lybercie
To bring heuē & erth, thē wylt thou (I trust) restore me.
Incipit Actus tertius.
Moseh lex.
THe lord perceiuyng, his fyrst law thus corrupted
With vnclene vices, sent me his law of Moses
To se hym for synne, substancyallye corrected
And brought in agayne, to a trade of godlynes
[Page]For I am a lawe of rygout and of hardenes
I strayghtly commaunde, and yf it be not done
I threti [...], I curej, and sle in my anger sone.
To God I requyre a perfyght obedyence
Con [...]empnynge all sache, as do it not in effecte
I shewe what synne is, I but dē sore mānes conscyence
To hym am I death, whan his lyfe is infect
Yet yf he take hede, to Christ I hym dyrect
Forgyuenes to haue, with lyke helth and saluatyon.
Leaste he shuloe dyspayre, and fall into dampnacion.
Infidelitas.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
A pastyme quoth a, I knowe not the tyme nor whan
I dyd laghe so moche, sence I was an honest man
Beleue me and ye wyll, I neuer sawe suche a sporte
I wold ye had ben there, lye might haue made the fort.
Moseh lex.
Where woldest thou haue had me, tell me good brother myne.
Infidelitas.
At the Mynorasse syr, late yester nyght at complyne.
Moseh lex.
At the Mynorasse? why what was there a do?
Infidelitas.
For suche an other, wolde I to South ampton go
In dede yesterdaye was theyr dedycacion
And thythe [...] in Goddes name, came I to se the fasshion
An olde fryer stode forth, with spectacles on his nose
Begy [...]nynge this Anteme, a my fayth, I do not glose.
[...]
[...]pides pr [...]ciosi.
Moseh lex.
[Page]And what dyd folowe of this?
Infidelitas.
I shall tell ye by Goddes blysse
Then came Dame Isbell an [...]lde Noune and a cal [...]e
Crowynge lyke acapon, and thus began the Psalme.
[...]
Sepe expugnauetun [...] me a i [...]uent [...]te [...]
Moseh lex.
And what includeth this mysterye?
Infidelitas.
A symple probleme of bytcherye
Whan the fryer begonne, afore the Nonne
to synge of precyous stones
From my youth sayth she / they haue comforte me
As it had ben for the nones
Moseh lex.
I assure the playne, I set not by suche gaudes
Thy vsage shewe the, to be brought vp amonge baude [...]
Infidelitas.
It was a good world, whā we had such holsom story [...]s
Preached in out churche, on sondayes and other feryes
With vs was it in [...]rye
Whan we went to Berye
And to our lady of grace
To the blou [...]e of hayles
Where no good chere fayles
And other holy place.
[Page]Whan the pryestes myght walke
And with yonge wyues talke
Than had we chyldren plentye
Then Cuckoldes myght leape
A score on a heape
Nowe is there not one to twentie.
When the Monkes were fatte
And ranke as a ratte
With bellyes lyke a Bore.
Then all thynges were dere
Both beafe, breade and bere
Nowe grudge the iourers sore.
Whan Bysshoppes myght burne
And from the truth turne
The syllye symple sowle.
Than dut [...] no man creake
Open mouth nor speake
Of Christ nor yet of Powle.
No we are the knaues bolde
With Scriptures to bolde
And teache them euery where
The carter, the sowter
The bodger, the clowter
That all wyll awaye I fere.
At vs so they pulle
Our lyuynges are dulle
We are nowe lyke to fall
If we do not fyght
For the churches ryght
By the Messe we lose all.
[Page]But I praye ye syr, tell me what is your name▪
Moseh lex.
The lawe of Moses, to lye were I to blame
Infidelitas.
In the same partyes, what do you intende?
Moseh lex.
Mankynde to refourme, that he his lyfe amende
I shewe what synne is, & what thynge pleseth God
I comforte the iust, and the yll, I ponysshe with rod
The cōmon people, haue thought it commodyous
Dyuers Goddes to haue, with rytes supersticious.
My cōmaundement is, to seke one God alone
And in all theyr nedes, to hym to make theyr mone
Amonge the Gentyles, was it thought none iniurye
If a man were hurte, to slee his aduersarye
This thynge I forbyd, and saye, thou shalt not kyll
Lawe is the reuenger, the man maye do no yll.
Some persones there are, that inordynatlye loue
Those are perswaded, all thynges them to behoue
Whiche I inhybyte, sayenge contynuallye
No rape shalt thou do, nor yet cōmyt aduouteye
Thou shalt do no thefte, nor coueyte that is not thyne
Agaynste thy neyghbour, shalt thou not falsely dyffyne.
Infidelitas.
We maye do nothynge, yf we be pynned in thus
Neither you nor God, to that harde trade shal bryng vs
We must haue one God, and worshyp hym alone
Matye that in dede, wolde make a Turke to g [...]ne
If we be stryken, we maye not stryke agayne?
Aprope [...] [...]gyne▪ and dyscretlye v [...]t [...] r [...]d [...]la [...]ne
For companyes sake, ye saye we maye not loue
[Page]I defye your worste, and to you there is my gloue.
Moseh lex.
What? thou wylt not fyght thy wits are better than so.
Infidelitas.
In the quarell of loue, I shall proue ye ere I go
By the Messe I thynke, to put ye to your f [...]ure.
Moseh lex.
Thou were moche better, to kepe thy pacyence.
Infidelitas.
Naye by Cockes sowle frynd, I must laye ye on y• coate
In loues cause to fyght, ye may soone haue m [...]a f [...] ar [...]
Naye but haue at your py [...]ch [...], defende ye yf ye maye.
Moseh lex.
Suche a foole art thou, as sekes thyne owne decaye
If I ones medle, t [...] the, it wyll be death
Dyddest thou neuer here, that law sleeth in his wrath.
Infidelitas.
By the blessed lorde, than wyll I playe Robsons parte.
Moseh lex.
Whye what part wylte thou playe?
Infidelitas.
By cockes sou [...]e geue ouer, so soone as I fele smarte
Moseh lex.
It wyll be to late, it I one scupple with the
Infidelitas.
Then let me a [...]on [...], and we shall soone agre
And I shall be glad to be acquaynted with ye.
Moseh lex.
Acquainta [...]ce good felaw, thou mayst soone haue of me
Infidelitas.
The worste faulte I haue, I am hast [...]e nowe & than
But it is sone gone, I toke it of a woman
But what meane those tables, y• ye haue in your hande.
Moseh lex.
[Page]Kepe scylence a whyle, and thou shalte vnderstande
Thre things I declare, the fyrst are y• preceptes moral
Next, the lawes iudicial, and last the rytes ceremoniall
The morall preceptes, are Gods cōmaundementes ten
Whiche ought euermore to be obserued of all men
The lawes of Nature, the morall preceptes declare
And y• plesaunt workes, to God they teache & prepare
They sturre man to fayth & prouoke hym also to loue
To obey, to serue, and to worshyp God aboue
Into s [...]ony tables, God wrote them fyrste of all
That they shulde remayne, as thynges contynuall▪
The first hath but thre, whiche tende to Goddes hyghe honour,
Seuen hath the seconde, & they concerne our neybour.
The fyrste doth expounde, the fyrste lawe naturall
The [...]ext the other, makynge them very formall
Inspryt [...] i [...] the fyrst, y• we shulde God honour and loue
To outwarde workynge the seconde doth vs moue
For [...]ydoynge all wronges preseruynge iust maryage
Norysshynge true peace, and other godly vsage.
Infidelitae.
What is the effecte, of your lawes Iudyciall?
Moseh lex.
Suche thynges to cōmaunde, as are cyuyle or tēporall
From vyce to refrayne, and outwarde iniurye
Quyet to conserue, and publyque honestie
These are to supporte, the lawes of the seconde table
Ceremonyall rytes are also commendable
In holy dayes, garmētes, temples & consecta [...]ions
Sacryfices & vowes, with offerynges and expi [...]acions
Which are vnto Christe, as fygures, types, & shadowes
[Page]As Paule doth declare, in his Epistle to the Hebrues
These are onely fygures, and outwarde testymonies
No man is perfyght, by suche darke ceremonyes
Onely perteyne they, vnto the thyrde cōmaundement
Of the Sabboth daye, tyll Christ the lorde be present.
In his death endynge, the whole Iudiciall presthode.
Infidelitas.
Good dayes myghte ye haue, ye speake full well by the roode.
I am a poore lad, and by my trouth bent earues [...]lye▪
To wayte vpon ye, and to be your very lackye.
Moseh lex.
What art thou called, I praye the hartelye.
Infidelitas.
Graye fryer am I none, by the Messe I can not flatter.
I am Infydelytie, to tell the truth of the matter.
Moseh lex.
And hast thou so longe dyssembled thus with me?
Infidelitas.
Yea, for aduauntage to smellout your subtyltie.
Moseh lex.
Auoyde hens I saye, thou false Infydelyte.
Infidelitas.
Naye that I wyll not, by yngham Trynytie.
Moseh lex.
Wylt thou not in dede, thā wyll I fet hyther the poure
Of Iudges & kynges, to subdue the within this houre.
Exit.
Infidelitas.
Suche knyghtes wyll I haue, as shall cōfounde thē al▪
Is S [...]dduces & scrybes, with the sec [...] pharysaycal [...]
By helpe of my chyldren Idolatrye and Sodomye
The lawe of Nature, I cast ones in a leprye
[Page]I haue yet two more, Ambycion & Coneytousnes
Whiche wyll do as moche to the lawe of Moyses
Where are my whorsons, that they come not awaye.
Iutisconsu [...]tus.
Auaritia.
Yea, whorson on thy face, euen in thy best araye
I wyll thou knowe it, I am a worshypfull Doctour
A Scrybe in the lawe, and a profytable proctour.
Infidelitas.
Guppe with a vengeaunce, howe comest thou so alofte.
Auaritia.
I shall tell the man, yf thou wylt comen more solte
By fayned flattery [...], and by coloured adulation
Ambycion here also, [...]ose of a lyke foundacion.
Infidelitas.
Come, are me blessynge, pretye boyes apace
Ambitio.
I wyll not bowe sure▪ to suche a folys [...]he face.
Infidelitas.
Axe blessynge I saye, and make me no more ado.
Ambitio.
Unsemely were it, we Prelates shulde do so.
Auaritia.
For no compu [...]syon wyll I do it by swete Marye.
Infidelitas.
I must fatche ye in, there is no remedye
A noughty horsons, haue I brought ye vp hytherto?
And know not your father, ye shall drynke both ere I go
Ambosimul.
No more at this tyme, forsoth we crye amercye.
Infidelitas.
Downe on your knees than, & axe me blessynge shortly.
Ambosimul.
Blesse me gentell father, for swete saynt charytie.
Infidelitas.
Aryse noughtyknaues, God let ye neuer to the
Though among our selues, we mu [...]mur [...], brag, & face
Somtyme for lucre, somtyme for the hygher place
Yet for aduauntage, in this we all agree
To blynde the rulers, and deceyue the com [...]ynaltie.
Auaritia.
Art aduysed of that, by the Messe we are in dede
Yet of our knaueryes, the fo [...]le & wyll neuertake hede.
To labour with a spade
Our colour wolde it fade
We maye not with that trade
We loue so moche our ease
We must lyue by theyr sweate,
And haue good drynke and meate
Whan they haue not to eate
The substaunce of a pease.
We leade them in the darke
And so theyr conseyence marke
That stutdye they are and starke,
In euery wycked euyll
We teache Idolatrye
And laught full merelye
To se eche companye
Ronne headlonges to the deuyll.
Ifwe maye haue the tythynges
And profytable offeryages
We ca [...]e not to what doynges
They customablye fall
We are suche mercenaryes
And subtyle propryetaryes
[Page]As from the flocke all carryes
The w [...]lle, skynne, flesshe and all.
In our perambulacyons
We looke for commendacions
And lowly salutacions
In temple, howse and strete.
Our lowsye latyne howres
In borowes and in bowres
The poore people deuoures
And treade them vnder fete.
Ambitio.
I am Ambycion, whose bysposycyan
Is honour to appete
I gape for empyre, and worshyp desyre
As Mynos dyd in Crete
I loke vp Aloft, and loue to lye softe
Not carynge for my flocke
Haue Iones the flese, with pygges, lambes, and gese
They maye go turne a Socke.
Lucifer I made, so hyghly to wade,
To God he wolde be equall
Of Adam and Eue, I slewe the beleue
And caused them to fall
What nede I rehearce, the gyauntes most fearce
With the buylders of Babell
Nemrod the tyrraunt, with them there applyaunt,
Agreed to my counsell.
From me wolde not go, cruell Pharao
No more wolde Amalech
Saul, Achitophell, Absolo [...], Iesabel
[Page]Nor Adonisedech.
I made Roboam, and Hierobeam
With Nabuchodouosor
Triphon, Alchmius, and Simon magus
To abuse them euermore.
Inpryde I excede, and no people fede
But with lyes for aduauntage
As Mantuane tell, to leade men to hell
Is my most common vsage.
Hyghe thynges I attempt, and wyll in exempt
From prynces iurisdition
A am suche an enyll, as brynge men to the deuyll
Without any contradiction.
Infidelitas.
Here is a prelate euen for myne owne toth
Suche an other is, not in the whole South
Clappe thou somwhat more, as thou hast begunne
I lyke wele your ta [...]kynge, by the holy Nunne.
Auaritia.
I Coutyse am, the beuyll or his dam
For I am insacyate
I rauysshe and plucke, I drawe and I sucke
After, a woluys she ra [...]e.
Father nor mother, Syster nor brother
I spare not in my moode.
I feare neyther God, nor his ryghtfull rod
In gatherynge of goode.
But howse and medowe, from the poore wydowe
[Page]I spare not forto take
Ryght heyres I rob, and as bare as Iob
The fatherles I make.
With me toke Nadab, Nabal and Achab
With all the clergye of Bell
Iudas and Giezi, with the sōnes of Hel [...]
And the sonnes of Samuell.
Iannes and Iambres, also Diotrephes
Wrought wylfull wyckednesse
So dyd Menelaus, with false Andronicus
And all for Coueytousnesse.
Ambicio.
With vyces seuen, I close vp heauen
And speare vp paradyce
I oppen hell, by my counsell
Mayntaynynge euery vyce.
Auarititia.
For Syluer and golde, with falsehed I holde
Supportynge euery euyll
I haue it in awe, for to thoke the lawe
And brynge all to the deuyll.
Infidelitas.
By the blessed Trynytie, no men more fyt for me
To do my busynes.
Ambycion to begyle, and Auaryce to defyle
The lawe of Moyses.
Tell me fyrste of all, what wylte thou do Ambycyon.
Ambitio.
I am thyne owne chylde, thou knowest my dysposycion
I wyll sure do, as dyd the Phylystynes.
Infidelitas.
[Page]Why what dyd those knaues?
Ambitio.
They stopped vp Abrahās pyttes, as Genesis diffynes
With mudde and with myre, & l [...]f [...] them full vnclene
Infidelitas.
By the same practyse, tell me what thou dost meane.
Ambitio.
With fylthy gloses, and dyrtye exposytion,
Of Goddes lawe wyll I hyde, the pure dysposycions
The keye of knowledge, I wyll also take awaye
By wrastynge the text, to the scriptures sore decaye.
Infidelitas.
And what wy [...]te thou, my felowe Coueytousnes?
Auaritia.
A vayle wyll I sprede, vpon the face of Moyses
That none shal perceyue, the clerenes of his coūtenaūce
Whiche is the lawe, the meanyng & true ordynaunce.
Infidelitas.
Wy what wyll ye saye, vnto the ten cōmaundemētes
Ambitio.
We must poyson them, with wylworkes, & good intētes
Where as God doth saye, No straunge goddes thou shalte haue
With Sayntes worshyppynge, that clause we wyl depraue.
And thoughe he cōm [...]unde, to make no graued ymage
For a good intent, yet wyll we haue pylgremage
Thoughe he wyll vs not, to take his name in vayne
With tradycions yet, therunto wyll we constrayne.
No Sabboth wyll we, with Gods worde sanctyfye
But with lyppe labour, and yd [...]e ceremonye.
To father and mother, we maye owe none obedyence
[Page]Our relygion is, of so so great excellence.
Thoughe we do not slee, yet maye we hertyckes burnè
If they wyll not soone from holy Scripture turne
What though it be sayde, thou shalt do no fornycacion
Yet wyll we mayntayne, moche greater abhomynacion
Though thefte be forbyd yet wyll we contynuallye
Robbe the poore people, throughe prayer & purgatorye
God hath inhy [...]yted▪ to gyue false testimonye
Yet we wyll condempne the Gospell for Heresye.
We shulde not coueyte our neybours house nor wyfe
His seruaunt nor b [...]ast, yet are we therin most ryfe
Of men make we swyne, by the draffe of our tradycions
And cause them nothynge to regarde but supersticions
As Dogges vnreasonable, on mos [...]vyle carren fede
So wyll we cause them, seke ydolles in theyr nede.
And alwayes theyr grounde, shalbe for a goodintent
Infidelitas.
More myscheuous I trowe, the deuyll coulde not inuēt
Than you two can do, by the Messe ye are alone
Lytle coulde I do, were ye ones from m [...] gone
To the corruptynge, of the lawe of Morses
Go forwarde therfore, in your deceytful [...]es
Auaritia.
With superstitions, the Iewes ceremoniall lawes
I wyll so handle, they shall not be worth▪ ii. strawes
The lawes Iudiciall throug [...]e cawtels and d [...]layes
I wyll also drowne, to all ryghteous mēnes decaye
To set this forwarde, we must haue sophystrye
Phylosophye and Logycke, as scyence necessarye
The Bysshoppes must hold theyr priestes in ygnoraūee
With long laten houres, lest knowledge to them chaūce
[Page]Let them haue long mattens, longe euen songes & long Masses
And that wyll make them as dull as euer were asses
That they shall neuer be able to prophecye
Or yet preache the truth, to our great iniurye.
Let the Cloyster [...]rs be brought vp euerin scylence
Without the Scriptures, in paine of dysobedyence
Se the laye people, praye neuer but in latyne
Let them haue theyr Crede, and seruyce all in latyne
That a latyne beleue, maye make a latyne sowle
Let them nothynge knowe, of Christe, nor yet of powle
If they haue Englysshe▪ let it be for aduauntage
For pardons, for Dyrges, for offerynges & pylgremage
I teken to make them, a newe Crede in a whyle
And all in Englysshe, theyr Conscyence to begyle.
Infidelitas.
Reherse vnto me, the Artycles of that Crede.
Auaritia.
The Artycles are these, geue eare and take good hede
First they shall beleue, in our holy father Pope
Nexte in his decrees, and holy decretals.
Then holy churche, with sencer, crosse and cope
In the Ceremonyes, and blessed Sacramentals
In purgatorye then, in pardons and intrentals
In prayenge to sayntes, and in saynt Frances whoode
In our lady of Grace, and in the blessed roode
They shall beleue also, in relyckes and relygion
In our ladyes psalter, in frewyll and good workes
In the ember dayes, and in the popes remyssyon
In b [...]des and in belles, not vsed of the turkes
In the golden Masses, agaynst such sprites as lurkes
[Page]With charmes and blessynges. This crede wyll bryng in money
In Englysshe therfore, we wyll it clarkely conueye.
Infidelitas.
Yea, and burne the knaues, that wyll not beleue ye crede
That into the dytche, the blynde the blynde maye lede.
Ambitio.
Then I holde it best, that we alwayes condempne
The Byble readers, least they your actes contempue.
Infidelitas.
Yea, neuer spare them, but euermore playe the bytar
Expressyng alwayes, the tropes and types of thy mytar
Ambitio.
Why, what doest thou thynke, my mytar to sygnyfye.
Infidelitas.
The mouth of a wolfe, and that shall I proue by & by
If thou s [...]oupe downward, lo, se how y• wolfe doth ga [...]e
Redye to deuoure the lambes, leaste any escape
But thy woluyshnes, by thre crownes wyll I hyde
Makynge the apope & a captayne of all [...]ryde
That whan thou dost slee, such as thy lawes cōtempne
Thou maist say, not I, but the powers did thē condēpne
The Cabels betoken, the lawes of se non & cannon
Ambicio.
I trow thou w [...]ldest say, the. ii. lawes Cyuyle & Canon
Infidelitas.
As I spake I thought, & styll thynke by saynt Iohan
Yea, persecute styll the instructers of the people
And thou Coueytous [...]es, let no bell rynge in Steple
Without a profyght. T [...]sshe, take money euery where
So nygh [...]lyppe and shaue, that thou leaue neuer a here
Aua [...]itia.
I caused the Pope, to take but nowe of late
[Page]Of the graye fryers, to haue a canonyzate
Franciscus de pola, thre thousand duckattes and more
And as moche besydes / he had not longe afore
For a Cardynall hatte, of the same holy ordre
Thus drawe we to vs, great goodes from euery border
Pope Clement the seuenth payed ones for his papacye
Thre hondred thousād, good duckates of lawful money
Infidelitas.
I maruayle howe he coulde come to so moche good.
Auaritia.
Yes, yes, by pollage, and by shedynge Christen blode.
Crosers and Mytars, in Rome are good merchandyce
And allto lyttle, to mayntayne theyr pompe and vyce
Ambitio.
The pope for whordom, hath in Rome and Uiterbye
Of golde and syluer, a wonderfull substaunce yearely
Tush they be in England yt moch rather wold to dwell
Whores in theyr dyoceses, than the readers of Christes Gospell.
Infidelitas.
They do the better, for by thē they maye haue profyght
As for the other, do trouble them daye and nyght
Well, nowe steppe forewarde, and go do your busynes
To the corruptynge, of the lawe of Moyses.
Auaritia.
Doubt not but we shall, make hym a crepple blynde.
Infidelitas.
Synge then at our farewell, to recreate our mynde.
Finita catiuncula exeunt ambo.
Infidelitas.
Nowe am I lefte alone, And these. ii. marchaūtes gone
Theyr myschyefe to seclude
[Page]I thynke within a whyle, they wyl trap and begyle
The worthy lawe of Iude.
Ambycion fyrste of all, with his rytes bestiall
Wyll make the people swyne
In draffe wyll he them lede, and with tradycions fede
Where they shall suppe or dyne
Coueytousnes wyll warke, that many one shall barke
Lyke dogges agaynst the truth
Some shal goddes word defyle, and some wyll it reuyle
Suche beastlynes ensu [...]th.
Ambicion hath this houre, al the whole spyritual poure
And maye do what hym lust
Now coueytousnes doth rule, & hath both horse & mule
All matters by hym dyseust
Now bysshopryt [...]es are [...]ol [...]e, & the holy ghost for golde
The pope doth bye and sell
The truth maye not be tolde, vnder paynes manyfolde
With sendynges downe to hell
The people preestes do famysshe, and theyr gooddes frō them rauysshe
Yea and all the worlde they blynde
All prynces do they mocke, and robbe the sellye flocke
Nothynge they leaue behynde
On the face of Moyses, a vayle they haue cast doubtles
The lyght of the lawe to hyde
Least mē to christ shulde come, frō ceremonyes dōme
As to theyr heauenly gyde
The lawe can neuer be, at any lybertie
Where suche two enemyes rayne
Nowe is it tyme to walke, of this more wyl I talke
[Page]Whan I come hyther agayne.
Exi [...] ▪
Moseh lex.
If pytie maye mou [...], your gentyll christen hartes
Let it nowe sturre ye, to mourne this heuye chaunce
Two enemies with me, haue played most wicked partes
And lefte me starke blynde, God knoweth to my sore greuaunce.
And I thynke also to your mothe hynderaunce
To leade you to Christ, somtyme a gyde I was
Nowe am I so blynde, I can not do it, alas.
Most rygorously those enemyes nowe of late
Dyd fall vpon me, and spoyle me of my syght
One was Ambycion, whiche euer ought me hate
And Coueyeousnesse, the other enemye hyght
Now forsoth and God, iutheyr most cruell spyght
The one made me blynde, the other made me lame
And whā they had done, therat they had great game.
Thus a blynde cryple, I wander here alone
Abydynge the tyme and grace, of restauracion
By the sonne of God, to whom I make my mone
My cause to pytie, and graunt me supportacion
Least I be left here, to vtter desolacion
And extreme decaye without any remedye,
If he dyd not helpe of goodnesse and of mercye.
Ye christen prynces, God hath gyuen you the poure
With scepture and swerde, allvyces to correcte
Let not Ambycion, nor Coueytousnesse deuoure
Your faythfull subiectes, nor your offycers infect
Haue to your Clergye, a dylygent respecte
And se they do not corrupt the lawes of God
[Page]For that doth requyre, a terryble heuy [...] rod.
God gaue me to man, and lefte me intables of stone
That I of hardenes, a lawe shulde specyfye
But the Pharysies, corrupted me anone
And toke from me cleane, the quyueru [...]s of bodye
With cler [...]uesse of syght, and other pleasures many
Nowe wyll I to Christ, that he maye me restore
To more perfection, than euer I had afore.
Finis Actus tertius.
Incipit Actus quartus.
Euangilium.
VN faythfulnes hath, corrupted euery lawe.
To the great decaye, of Adams posterytie
were it not for me, which now do hither draw
Al flesh wold perysh, no man shulde saued be
I am Christes Gospell, and infallyble verytie
Suche a power of God, as saueth all suche as beleue
No burden nor yoke, that any man wyll gr [...]ue.
In the bloude of Christ, I am a full forgyuenes
Where fayth is grounded, with a sure confydence
I am suche a grace, and so hyghe tydynges of, gladnes
As rayse the synner, and pacyfye his conscyence.
I am spyryte and lyfe, I am necessarye scyence
I requyre but loue, for mannes iustyfication
With a fayth in Christ, for his health and saluacion.
Infidelitas.
Goddes beneson haue ye, it is ioye of your lyfe
I haue hearde of ye, and of my maystresse your wyfe.
Euangilium.
If thou hardest of me, it was by the boy [...]e of God.
Infidelitas.
[Page]Naye, he that spake of ye, was [...]ellynge of a God
In an Oystre bote, a lytle beyonde quene hythe
A Northen man was he, & he besought ye to be blythe
Euangilium.
If he spake of me, he was some godly preacher.
Infidelitas.
Naye syr by the roo [...]e, nor yet a wholsom teacher.
Euangilium.
After what maner dydhe speake of me? tell.
Infidelitas.
He swore lyke a man, by all contentes of the Gospell
He swore and better swore, yea, he dyd sweare & sweare agayne.
Euangilium.
That speakynge is suche, as procureth eternall payne
Wyll not the people, leaue that most wycked folye?
And it so damnable, to heare it I am sorye
But what dyddest thou meane, whau thouspakest of my wyfe?
Infidelitas.
Nothynge, but I thought it was ioye of your lyfe
That ye were so good to your neyghboures as ye are
Euangilium.
Why, howe good am I? thy fantasye declare.
Infidelitas.
Ye ease them amonge, yf it be as I heare
Whan ye are abrode, there is fyne merycheare.
Euangilium.
As thou art, thou speakest after thy hertes abundaun [...]e
For as the man is, suche is his vtteraunce.
My wyfe is the churche, or christen congregacion
Regenerate inspyryte, doynge no vyle operacion
[Page]Both cleane and holy, without eyther spot or wryncle
The lambe with his bloud, dyd her wash & bespryncle.
This is not the churche, of dysguysed hypocrytes
Of apysh shauelyng [...]s, or papisticall Sodomytes
Nor yet as they call it, a temple of lyme and stone
But a lyuysh buyldynge, grounded in fayth alone
On the harde rocke Christ, whiche is the sure fosidacion
And of this churche, some do reygne in euery nacion
And in all coūtreyes, though theyr nombre be but smal
Infidelitas.
Theyr nombre is suche, as hath ronne ouer all
The same Danes are they, men prophecye of playne
Whiche shuld ouer ronne this realme yet ones agayne.
Euangilium.
What Danes speakest thou of? thy meanynge shewe more clerely.
Infidelitas.
Da [...]e Iohan, Dane Robert, Dane Thomas, and Dane Harrye.
The same are those Danes, that laye with other mens wyues.
And occupyed theyr landes, to the detryment of theyr lyues.
These are acccounted, a great part of the churche
For in Goddes seruyce, they honourably wurche
Yellynge and cryenge, tyll theyr throtes are full sore.
Euangilium.
That Churche was descrybed, of Esaye longe afore
This people (sayth God) with theyr lyppes honour me
In vayne worshyp, they teachynge mēnes fatuyte
Apparaunt is that churche, and open to the eyes
Theyr worshyppynges are, in outwarde ceremonyes
That coūterfetchurch standeth al by mēnes tradycions
[Page]Without the scriptures, & without y• hertes affections
My churche is secrete, and euermore wyll be
Adorynge the father, in spyryte and in verytie
By the worde of God, this churche is ruled onelye
And doth not consyst, in outwarde ceremonye
This congregacion, is the true Churche mylytaunt
Those Counterfayte Desardes, are the verye Churche malygnaunt.
To whom Christ wyll saye, I knowe none of your sor [...]
Infidelitas.
Moche are they to blame, that brethren so report
Euangilium.
Suche are no brethren, but enemyes to Christes blode
As put saluacion, in shauen crowne mytar, or whoode.
Infidelitas.
I praye ye how lōge, haue your swete spowse cōtynued
Euangilium.
Sens the beginnynge, and now is in Christ re [...]ued.
Adam dyd promyse, of Christes incarnacion
So had Abraham, with his whole generation
Whiche was vnto them, a preachynge of the Gospell
Into saluacion, and delyueraunce from hell.
Infidelitas.
By this tyme I hope, ye haue a fayre increase?
Euangilium.
She is not ba [...]en, but beareth and neuer cease
The Corinthes first epistle, hath this clere testymonye
In Christo Iesu, per Euangilium vos genui
I haue begot you, in Iesu Christ sayth Powle
By the Gospell preachyng, to the cōfort of your sowle.
Infidelitas.
Than are ye a ouckolde, by the blessed holy masse
As I sayde afore, so cōmeth it nowe to passe
[Page]For I am a prophet, by hyghe inspyration led
Nowe lyke I my selfe, moche better than I dyd
Ye say y• saynt Paule, begate your wyfe with chylde.
Euangilium.
By mysunderstandyng, thou art vngracyously begylde
An only mynyster, was paule in that same doynge
That he therin dyd, was by the Gospell preachynge
His mynde is the Gospell, to haue done that operation
And this must thou holde, for no carnall generacion.
Infidelitas.
Mary so they saye, ye fellowes of the newe learnynge
Forsake holy churche, and nowe fall fast to wyuynge.
Euangilium.
Nay they forsake whordom, with other dāpnablevsage
And lyue with theyr wyues, in lawfull maryage
Whyles the popes oyled swarme, [...]aygne styll in theyr olde buggerage
Infidelitas.
Yeà, poore maryed men, haue very moche a do
I count hym wysest, that can take a snatch and to go?
Euangilium.
Thou semest one of them, that detesteth matrymonye▪
Whiche is afore God, a slate both iust and holye.
Of suche as thou art, saynt Paule dyd prophecye
By the holy Ghost, that a certayne companye
In the latter dayes from the truth of God shulde fall
Attendynge to spyrytes, of errour dyabolycall
Whiche in hypocrysye, wyll teache lyes for aduaūtage
With marked conseyences, inhabytynge maryages
Thou apperest by thy fruytes, to be Infydelyti [...]
Infidelitas.
I am none other, but euen the very he
[Page]And hyther nowe come I, to cōmenthe matter with ye
Euangilium.
Auoyde cursed fende, and get the out at the gates.
Infidelitae.
Nay fyrst wyl I serue ye, as I lately serued your mates
And hence wyll I not, for this place is for me
Who shulde here remayne, but I Infydelyte?
Euangilium.
Well, than for a tyme, I must departe from hens
But this fyrste wyll I saye, before this andyens
Easyer wyll it be, concernynge punysshment
To Sodom and Gomor, in the daye of iudgement,
Than to those Cyties, that resyste the verytie
At the suggestions of Infydelytie.
That people wyll be foreuer and euer lost
For it is the great synne, agaynst the holy Ghost
In the olde lawe fyrste, the father his mynde exprest
Then came his sonne Chryst, & made it more manyfest
And nowe the holy Ghost, is come to close vp all,
If he be not hearde, extreme dampnacion wyll fall
No prayer remayneth, nor expyracion for synne
To them that no profyght, of the worde of God wyll wynne.
Take good hede therfore, & saye that ye haue warnyng
Exit.
Infidelitas.
God sende your mother, of you to haue a fondelynge.
By the masse I thynke, he is wel [...] out of the waye
Nowe wyll I contryue the dryfte of an other playe
I must worke such wayes, Christes lawe maye not cō tynue,
In a whyle am I lyke, to haue none els of my retynue
Com [...] anyons I haue, to begynne this tragedye,
Namely false Doctryne, and his brother Hypocrysye
[Page]They wyll not belonge, I suppose nowe verelye
By cockes soule me thynke, I se suche a companye
Hem, I saye chyldren, wyll not my voyce be hearde
As good is a becke, as is adewe vow garde.
By my honestie welcome, myne own companyons both
Intran [...]
Pseudodoctrina.
Thou shalt haue a liuery of the same cloth,
Gramatcyes by God, my olde frende Infydelyte.
Hypocrisie.
What brother su [...]psuap, how go the worlde with the▪
Infidelitae,
What, fryre [...]ypflap, how saye ye to, Bendicite?
Hypocrises.
Marry nothynge but well, I crye now aduaūtage
Infidelitae.
At her purse or arse, tell me good fryre fuccage?
Hypocrisie.
By the Messe at both for I am a great penytensar
And syt at the pardon, tush I am the popes owne vycar
If thou lackest a pece, I know where thou mayst be sped
With choyse of a score, and brought euen to thy be [...] ▪
Pseudodoctrina.
Art thou not ashamed, to talke so lyke a knaue?
Hypocrisie.
No, for it is such gere, as the holyest of vs wyll haue
Pope, cardynall, byshop, mōke, chanon prist & fryre,
Not one of ye all, but a woman wyll desyre.
Pseudodoctrina.
Our ordres permyt vs not, to haue them in maryag [...]
Hypocrisie.
No, but ye fatche them in, by an other carryage.
Ye do euen as we do, we both are of one rate.
Infidelitae.
By the Messe I laugh, to here this whoreson prate▪
Pseudodoctrina.
[Page]What fasshion vse ye, to vs here intymate.
Hypocrysie.
Ego distingu [...], whyther ye wyll haue Lyons or Parys.
Pseudodoctrina.
Of them both to shewe, it wyll not be farre amys▪
Hypocrisie.
In Parys we haue, the mantell of saynt Lewes
Whiche women seke moche, for helpe of theyr barēnes.
For be it ones layde, vpon a womans bellye
She go thens with chylde, the myracles are sene there daylye
And besydes all this, ye wolde marueyle in confessyon
What our fathers do, to assoyle them of transgressyon
Iohan Thessecelius, assoyled a yonge woman ones
Behynde the hygh aulter, tyll she cryed out of her bones
And as for lyons, there is the length of our lorde
In a great pyller, she that wyll with acorde
Be fast bounde to it, and take suche chaunce as fall
Shall sure haue chylde, for within it is hollowe all
Tush, I coulde tell ye, of moche more wondre thā this
In course to here them, I thynke ye wolde ye blys.
Pseudodoctrina.
As thou hast begonne, go forwarde in it and te [...].
Infidelitae.
Suche a knaue I suppose, is not from hens to hel.
Hypocrisie.
In our relygyon, was an holy popysh patryarke
Whiche of all bawdrye, myght be the great monarke.
The Nunnes to confesse, he went from place to place
And two hundred of them, he broached in that space
[Page]Many spyces he eate, his courage to prouoke
Suche a fellowe was he, as of that gere had the stroke
Pseudodoctrina.
Now somwhat wyl I tel, to confyrme thy tale withall
In kyng f [...]dināds tyme, in Spayne was a Cardynall
Petrus mendoza, was the very man that I meane
Of lemmans he had, great nombre besydes the quene
One of his bastardes, was an earle, an other was duke
Whom also he abused, and thought it no rebuke.
Ioannes Cr [...]mona an other good Cardynall
For reformation, of the clergye spyrituall
Came ones into Englād, to dāpne preestes matrymony
And the next nyght after, was taken, doynge bytcherye
Doctor Eckius also, whiche fearcely came to dyspute
In [...]psia with luther, myndyng there hym to con [...]ute.
For maryage of pryestes, thre chyldren [...]ad that yeare
By this may ye se, that somtyme we make mery cheare
Euangelium.
Mary that do ye, I shall beare ye recorde nowe
But howe wyll ye answere, for breakynge of your vow.
Pseudodoctrina.
We neuer breake vowe, so longe as we do not marye
Thoughe we in whordome, be neuer so bolde and busy.
Infidelitas,
By your ordre than, ye maye walke moche at large
What hast thou hypocresy, to laye for thy dyscharge
Hypocrisie.
Saynt Frances habyte, with the holy gyrdle & whoode
Noue can go to hell, that therin dye by the roode
In case saynt Frances, be sure vpon theyr syde
[Page]Els maye they fortune, to be of theyr purpose wyde
For I teade of one that shulde haue gone to the deuyll
But the spyrytes of hell, coulde do no hym no euyll.
Tyll saynt Frauces came, & loke from hym this cowle
Then went he to hel, the fryers dyd here hym howle.
I wyll therfore serue S Frances, with hert and mynde
With dayly memoryes, that he maye be my frynde
And than I care not for all the deuylles in hell
That I haue tolde you, is more true then the Gospell.
Infidesitas.
Then are ye more sure, than monkes for your herytage
For theyr landes are here, but ye clayme heauen for aduauntage.
Pseudodoctrina.
Yet is it to them, a very pleasaunt thynge
Theyr Abbot at home, tobe called lorde and kynge.
Infidesitas.
Naye monke and churle, for here [...]s no kynge but one,
If he be a kynge, his mace is a mary bone
And his crowne a cowtorde, suche knaues as come frō the carte
Must be called kynges, for playenge a popysh par [...].
Pseudodoctrina.
It becometh not the, the Romyshe pope, so to lurche
Consyderynge he is the hyghest of the churche.
Infidesitas.
If he be the hyghest, than is he the [...]thercocke
Pseudodoctrina.
Ah, nowe I per [...]eyne, thou art dysposed to mocke
Of all holy Churche, he is the pry [...]eypall heade.
Infidesitas.
Mary that is true, he sendeth out bulles vnder lead
And he hath two [...]yes, the one to open hell
The other spea [...]eth heuen, thus do new here tyekes tell
[Page]They reporte also that Dogges haue no deuocion
To his holy lawes, nor his olde instruction.
Pseudodoctrina.
Why shuld dogges hate him? make that more euident
Infidesitas.
They loue no p [...]se portege, nor yet red herynges in lent
Steckfysshe nor oysters, but curse hym body and bone
And wolde his red sprottes, & rotten fysshe were gone
Tush, I heare them I, and that maketh me full sad.
Hypocrisis.
Eyther thou doest mocke, or els thou art sure mad.
Infidelitas.
Theare the people complayue very moche of the.
Pseudodoctrina.
What is theyr pratlinge, I praye the hartely tell me.
Infidelitas.
They say thou teachest, nothynge but lowsy tradictōs.
And lyes for lu [...]e, with damnable supersticions
And thus they cōclude, that the draffe of popysh prysies
Is good ynough for Swyne, by whome they do meane the Papystes.
Yea, and they saye also, the dyet of men is all
To most byle carryen, the dogges wyll soonest fall
Pseudodoctrina.
Than do they compare, the papistes vnto dogges.
Infidelitas.
Marye that do they, and to suche swynys she hogges
As in swyllandsosse, are brought vp all theyr lyfe
Suche are the Papistes, they saye both man and wyfe
They saye also, that thou art a noughty knaue
By prowlynge and ly [...]ge, ye fryers wolde all haue
Thyne ordre they saye, is spronge euen out of hell
And al this knowledge, they haue now of the Gospell.
Hypocrisis,
[Page]Why, where is he nowe, I beseche the hartely tell.
Infidelitas.
By the messe abrode, & I warrande ye maketh reuell.
I comoned with hym, and he dyd vs despyse
Agaynst hym therfore, somwhat we must de uyse.
Pseudodoctrina.
Mary that must we, or els it wyll be wronge
He wyll sure dystroye vs▪ yf we do suffre hym longe
Nedes must we serue hym, as we ones serued Christ.
Infidelitas.
Why mad bray [...]ed whorsons, how did ye handle Christ
Pseudodoctrina.
As he preached here, we folowed frō place to place
To trap hym in snare, and his doctryne to deface
Than founde we the meanes, to put hym so to death
Leaste he agaynste vs, shulde open any more breath
And we set foure knyghtes, to kept hym downe in his graue
That he neuer more, our lyuynge shulde depraue.
And thus must we serue the Gospell, no remedye
Els wyll he destroye our lyuynges perpetuallye.
B [...]tt [...]r one were lost, than we shulde perysshe all
As Cayphas ones sayde, in Counsell pharisa [...]call.
Infidelitas.
By god well sayd, whan ye haue hym in his graue
Stāpe hym down, tyl he shyte, & serue him lyke & knau [...]
Hypocrisis.
We must so ordre hym, that he go no more at large.
Pseudodoctrina.
Foure knyghtes wyllwe hyre, whom we shall streyghtlye charge.
[Page]To kepe hym downe harde, the fyrste are ambycyous Prelates.
Then Coueytous lawyers, that Goddes worde spyght fuliye hates.
Lordes without learnynge, and iustyces vnryghtfull
These wyll kepe hym downe, & rappe hym on the sc [...]ll.
Theyr Somners and theyr Scrybes, I warrande ye shall stere
With baylyurs and catchp [...]lles, to holde hym downe euery where
I trow Rug & Corbet, at Norwit [...]h wyll do theyr part
With wharton of [...]ongaye, and for my sake put hym to smart.
Hypocrisis.
And I wyll rayse vp in the vnyuersyties
The seuen slepers ther, to aduaunce the popes decrees
As Dorbell and Duns, Durand & Thomas of Aquyne
The master of sentens, with Bachon the great deuyue
Hēricus de Gandauo, and these shall read ad cletū.
Aristotle and Albert, de secretis mulierum
With the Cōmentaryes, of Aui [...]en and Aueroyes
And a Phebo Phebe, whiche is very good for boyes
Infidelitas.
Yea and let the pope, as Gods owne Uicat here
In his hand▪ iii. cro [...]ses, &. iii. crownes on his head [...]ere
His power betokenynge in heauen, in earth, & in hell
That he may comaūde all kynges, & subdue the gospell
Pseudodoctrina.
His selfe maye do that he nede comaunde none other
Is not he the heade of the holy churche out mother
May not be make sayuts & deuyls at his owne plesure
Which hath in his hādes, the [...]eyes & churches tresure
So well as he made saynt Herman fyrst a saynt
And twentye yeares after, of Heresye hym attaynte.
[Page]Fyrste he sent hym to heauen, by his canonyzacion
And from thence to bell, by auexcommunycation
We reade of formosus, that after he was deade
One pope his fyngars, another cut of his heade
And threwe his Carkasse, into the floude of Tyber
With the head and fyngers, as Platina doth remēber
In token that he, is iudge ouer quycke and dead
And maye dampne and saue, by his pardons vnder lead
Syluester the seconde, to the deuyl hymselfe ones gaue
For that hyghe offyce, that he might dampne and saue
He offered also his stones to Sathan, they saye
For priestes chastytie, and so went theyr maryage away
Hypocrisis.
Here is one cōmynge, enquyre what he entende.
Infidesitas.
Ha? it is the Gospell, from hym God vs defende.
Exit secreto,
Pseudodoctrina.
Shewe me brother myne, who dyd the hyther sende.
Euangelium.
The father of heauen, of his mere beuyu [...]lence
I desyre therfore, of free audyence.
Pseudodoctrina,
Ye mynde than to preache afore this companye?
Euangelium.
In the lawes of God, wolde I instructe them gladly
For none other waye, there is vnto saluacion
But the worde of God, in euery generation
That qayckeueth, that saueth, yt bryngeth vnto heuen.
As before his death, Christ taught the Apostle aleuen.
Pseudodoctrina.
Preache here thou shalt not, without the Aucthorytie
Of pope or bys [...]hop, or some of theyr affynytie.
Euangelium.
[Page]Goddes worde, neuer taketh his auctorytie of man.
Pseudodoctrina,
Thou shalt not here preache, do thou the best thou can.
Hypocrisis.
Goddes blessynge on your harte, it is spoken euen lyke a man.
Ye knowethis daye syr, we haue a full holy feast
And must go processyon, with the blessed roode of reast
We haue longe mattens, longe laudes, longe houres, longe pryme.
Masse, euensong, complyne, & all must be done in tyme
Sensynge of the Aulters, and castynge of holywater
Holy breade makynge, with other necessarye matter.
Euangelium.
Haue God cōmaunded any suche thynges to be done
Pseudodoctrina.
What is that to the? go medle with olde shone
Canst thou saye, but they are good sygnyfications?
Euangelium.
I saye they are fruytes of your ymagynacions.
To brynge in luere, and darken Goddes hyghe glorye.
Of you God doth axe, no suche vayne beggerye
Christ neuer sent his, to she we sygnyfications
But his lyuynge worde, to all the Christen nations
Ye forsake the Lorde, as Esaias doth tell
And hyghly blaspheme, the holy of Israell.
In his fyrste chapter, this horryble sentence is
Quis hec frusteanea quesiuit, be manibus Bestris,
Who hath requyred, of yousuche sacryfyce
In vayne offre you, that vntō maunded seruyce
[Page]Your incense to me, is great Abhomyuation
I sore abhorte it, and moche detest your fasshyon
Whan ye pray to me, I gyue ye none attendaunce
But auert my face (sayth God) & my countenaunce
By this ye maye se, that the lorde doth not regarde
your mangre mutteryng, neither graūt it any rewarde
No man wylleth Paule, to speake in the congregation
In a straunge language, without interpretation.
In your latyn houres, the flocke do ye not consyder
But declare your selues, to be Romys she all togyther
Be not led aboute (sayth Paule, by any straūge letuyng
What els is your doctryne, but a blynde popysh thyng?
He testifyeth also, Non enim vt baptizatem
Dis [...]t tu [...] Christue, sed vt Euangeliz [...]rem.
Christ hath not me sent, that I shulde baptyse, sayth Paule
But to preache his worde, to the cōforte of mans soule
Loo, thoughe baptyme be a thynge very necessitye
yet must it gyue place, to Goddes worde, no remidye
Why than preferreye, your draffys she ceremonyes
To the Gospell preachyuge, O dampuable iniuryes.
Hypocrysis.
Why suffre ye hym, to pratle here so longe?
Pseudodoctrina.
Get the hence shortly, or with the, it wyll be wronge.
Intran [...].
Infidelitas.
Peace be here and God, mayster Doctour by your leaue
That I maye declare, a pardon here in my slene
Of our Ladye of Boston, Ingham, and saynt Iohannes Frarye
With the indulgence, of blessed saynt Antonye
Pseudodoctrinai
[Page]Well, take thy pleasure, and do it hardelye.
Hypocrisie.
Syr he doth me wronge, for this daye it is my stacion
To preache my brotherhed, and gather my lymytacion
Pseudodoctrina.
Who fyrste spake, fyrste spede, steppe forth and rede thy pardon
And whan he hath done, your course is, father warden.
Euangelium.
What course appoynt ye, for preachynge of the Gospell
Pseudodoctrina.
I wolde thy Gospell, and thou, were both nowe in hell
Euangelium.
Why and shall this baggage, put by the worde of God
Pseudodoctrina.
Thou wylt not be answered, tyl thou fele a sharper rod
Infide [...]ita [...],
Good Christen people, I am come hyther berelye
As a true poctour, of the house of saynt An [...]onye
Of cleane remyssyon, I haue brought ye indulgence
A pena et culpa, for all your synne and [...]ff [...]ure
By the Auctorytie of pope Leo and pope Clement
Pope Bonyface, pope Pius, pope Iohan, and pope Innocent.
And here I blesse ye, with the wynge of the holy ghost
From thundre to saue ye, and frō spyrytes in euery coo [...]
Lo, here is a bell, to hange vpon your hogge
And saue your Cattell, from the bytynge of a dogge
So many as wyllcome, to this holy frater [...]ytie
Come paye your money, and ye shall haue letters of me
Pseudodoctrina.
[Page]Let me haue a letter, for I wyll be a brother
Hypocrisie.
Then gyue me a bell, for I wyll be an other.
Euangelium,
O damnble leadyuge, of Babylonicall sodomytes
Your selues ye declare, to be shamefull hypocrytes
Lorde pytie thy people, and take awaye these gydes
These scorners, these robbers, these cruell homycydes
Suche prophetes are they, as God dyd ueuer sende
As Hiere mye sayth, they damnable wayes pretende.
Wo Hypocrytes wo, for here ye tryfie and mocke
With christen people, & the kyngdō of heauen vp locke
Ye counte it a game, to lose that Christ hath bought
With his precyous blode, & here most derely sought
O ye are wretches, and pestylent Antichristes
Mynysters of Dagon, and most deceytfull papistes.
Lyke tauenouse Wolues, poore Wydowes ye deuoure
By tytle of prayer▪ eternall dampnacion is youre
Your owne dreames ye folow, but matter moche more wayghtye
Ye do not esteme, as iudgement, fayth, and mercye
Wo Pharyses wo, ye make cleane outwardelye
But inwardes ye are full, of coueytousues & bawdrye.
Paynted tumbes are ye, apryenge tyght beautyfull
But within ye stynke, & haue thoughtes very shamefull
Ye slewe the prophetes, your doynge yet beare wytnes.
How thynke ye to auoyde, that poynt of vnrighteousnes
Oh ragynge serpentes, and vyperouse generation
Howe can ye escape, the daunger of dampnacion
Pseudodoctrina.
Who made the so bolde, to medle within my cure?
And teache newe learnynge? an heretyke art thou sure
If due serch were made, we shulde fynde the (I thynke) no pryest
Euangelium,
Yes, anoynted of God, but no popysshe Antichrist.
Pseudodoctrina.
Let me se, where are the letters of thy ordres?
Euangelium,
Where Chryste his selfe is, & not in the same borders
No suche pryest am I, as is anoynted with oyle
But the holy Ghost, for I am none of this soyle.
Pseudodoctrina.
Here I attache the, for a buysye scismatyke
And wyll the accuse, for an haynouse heretyke
Laye handes vpon hym, & depryue hym of this apparell
H [...]c Beste spotiatum sordidiori [...]us induunt.
Loo, thus wyl I handle al thē, that shal take thy quarel
Holde awaye with this gere, and laye it forth asyde.
Hypoc [...]isis.
Nay, tary brother myne, for away shalt thou not slyde
Euangelium.
I am not goynge, why doest thou slaunder me?
Infidelitas.
But ne hym to ashes and shewe to hym no pytie.
Pseudodoctrina.
Brent shall he not be, if he wyll nomore do so.
Felowe howe sayst thou? wylt th [...]u here abiute or no?
Euangelium,
I wyll neyther abiure, nor yet recant Gods glorye.
Pseudodoctrina.
I offered the reason, and therto thou wylt not applyd,
Well get the forewarde for thou shalt sure dye
[Page]The temporall power, shall iudge the to the fyre
At our Accusement, and holy relygyous desyre.
Euangelium.
Thought you for my sake impryson men cruellye
Famysshe them, stocke them, and them with fagots frye
Hurte me ye shall not, for I can neuer dye
And they for my sake, shall lyue perpetually [...].
Pseudodoctrina.
Here is a pratynge, with a very vengeaunce hēnce.
Ex [...]unt cum [...]ol
Hypoc [...]isis,
This horryble hetetycke, now shal we well recompence
Infidelitas.
Yea, hurne hym well fryre, and let hym no longer raigne
Laye on greue faggottes, to put hym to more payne
By the messe I laugh, to se howe this ge [...]e doth wurke
He is lyke of thē, to haue no more gra [...]r than a turke
For suche knaues they are, as a man shall not lyghtly fynde.
And take ouer hell, companyons they are to my mynde
My busynesse all, is nowe at good conclusion
That I haue brought these. iii. lawes to confusion
Nowe shall I be able, to lyue here peaceablye
And make frowly [...]e chere, with hey how frysfa Iolye
The lawe of Nature, I caste fyrste in a leprye
By the secrete helpe, of ydolatrye and sodomye.
The lawe of Moyses, I made a crypple blynde
Auaryce and Ambycion, to helpe me were not behynde
And nowe Christes lawe, I haue br [...]ut for heresy [...]
By helpe of false doctryne, and my cosyn hypocrysye
On these same thre lawes, all other lawes depende
And can not prenayle, nowe these are at an ende.
[Page]If Christen gouerners, do not these lawes vpholde
Theyr Cyuple ordynaunces, wyll soone be very colde
Well, this valeaunte George, hath made them all to stoupe.
Cheare nowe maye I make, and set cocke on the houpe
Fyll in all the pottes, and byd me welcome hostesse
And go cal me hyther, myne own swete mynyon Besse▪
Finit Actus quartus.
Incipit Actus quintus.
Uindicta Dei.
QUid gloriaris in malicia? qui potens es in iniquitate.
Thou vengeable wretche, replete with poyson and vyce
Why doest thou thus, reioyce in crueltie and maiyte?
Thynkest thou that God slepeth, & wyl not his defende
And that thy myschyefe, shall neuer haue an ende
The blode of Innocentes, to hym for vengeaunce call
And therfore this houre, must I fearcely vpon the fall
Infidelitas.
Thou spyryte of the ayre, I straygtly coniure the here
By Panton & Craton, and charge the to come no nere.
Uindicta Dei.
Thynkest thou to stop me, with thy foolysshe cōsuracion
Whom God sendeth hyther, for thy abhomynacion.
Infidelitas.
[Page]What art thou called? thy name to me reherse.
Uindicta dei.
I am Uindicta Dei, in punysshement most fearce,
With water, with sooerde, and with fyre I muste thee pearce
Infidelitas.
Be good in thy offyce, & thou shalt haue money & meat
Uindicta Dei.
By fylthy rewardes, thou canst not me entreate
But that I wyll do, as God hath me commaunded
For yf worldely gyftes, my furye myght haue changed
The buyuetfall worlde, had ben drownde with water
Nor Sodome & Gomor, with so fyery fearefull matter
Nor yet the Israelyties, with terrour of the sworde
With hungre & pestylence, in the angre of Gods worde
Pharao in Egypte, the plagues had neuer felte
Myght I haue bene stopped, for syluer or for g [...]l [...]e
Into Egipte I brought, ten terryble punysshementes
Upon the people, for breakynge his cōmaundementes
Theyr wholsom waters, I tourned into bloude
I multyplyed frogges, to poyson therwith theyr foode.
I made waspes and Dranes, them greuously to stynge
And all kyndes of flyes, soone after dyd I in brynge
Upon theyr cattell, I threwe the fowle pestylence
Both botche, byle, and blayne, they had for theyr offence
Lyghtenynges and haylynges, destroyed theyr Corne and fruyte.
A swarme of hungry locustes, theyr pastours destytute
The space of thre daies, I gaue thē palpable darkenes
I slewe the fyrst goten, of mā and beast, for thy rudenes
[Page]For I neuer stryke, but for the Infydelytie.
Infidelitas.
Stryke for me quoth [...]? By y• mary Masse I defye thē
Uindicta Dei.
What thou wylte not so, thy braynes are not so lyght
Infidelitas.
Angre me not to moche, for if thou do, I fyght
Uindicta dei.
All that wyll not helpe, thy wycked workynges nowe
Whan the stronger come, the weaker must nedes bowe
The lawe of Nature, infected thou hast, with a leprye.
Infidelitas.
Naye, it was not I, but that wytche Idolatrye
And that polde shorne knaue, that men cal Sodomye
Uindicta Dei.
Of whom syronge they fyrste? but of Infydelytie?
Therfore thou shalte haue, that plage of penaltie
Whiche they fyrste tasted, for theyr Iniquitie
For those two vyces, I drowned the worlde with water
In token wherof, I plage the, with the same matter.
Hic Infidelitatem [...] [...]pha perc [...]tit,
Infidelitas.
Tusshe, I defye thy worst, this shall not dryue me hē [...]
For after the floude, with Cham had I resydence
And so contynued, tyll Moyses lawe came in
With his iolye tryckes, a newe rule to begyn
Uindicta Dei.
And hym thou cortuptest, with Auaryce and Ambicion
And so dydst leaue hym in myserable condycion
Thou shalte haue therfore, that than to them was due
Most terryble battayle, the Israelties vntrue
That tyme dyd suffre, for theyr Infydelytie
Wherfore with this swerde, I iustlye banysshe the.
[Page]Bycause thou shalt here, gyue place to Christes gospel
Gladio Infidelitatem denuo cedit.
Infidelitas.
Yet wyll I not hence, but agayne ones rebell.
Dyd not I remayne, with Iudas, and other more?
Whan Christe prea [...]hed here, and taught them to ve [...] hym sore.
Yes, and after that, was I with Simon Magus
With Saunder Coppersmyth, with Elimas and Demetrius.
And nowe I perseuer, amonge the ranke rable of Papistes
Teachynge theyr sho [...]lynges, to playe the Antichriste [...]
Uindicta Dei.
The Innocent bloude, of sayntes contynually
Dothe all vnto God to reuenge theyr iniurye▪
Agaynst false doctryne and cursed hypocresye
Whom thou hast raysed the glory of the Gospell
To darken, and his fryndes most myserably to quell.
Wherfore thou shalt haue lyke as thou hast deserued
For thy wycked doynges, thy punysshmēt now doubled.
Ignis ipsum precedet. The Prophet Dauid sayth thus.
At (que) inflammabit in citcuitu inimicos eiue.
A consumynge fyre, shall ronne before the iudge
His enemyes consumynge, they shall fynde no refuge.
Ob scesera et culpas hominum, titus (que) nephandes
In cineres ibit tissus, tenuim (que) fauillam
As Mantuan writeth, for the wickednesse of the
The earth to asshes, by fyre, shall turned be.
Ignis flamnia Infidelitatem [...] coget.
Infidelitas,
Credo, credo, credo. I saye, credo, credo, credo,
To the Denyll of hell, by the Messe I wene I go.
Exit.
Deus Pater.
As [...]e haue sene here▪ howe I haue stryken with fyre
The pestylent vyce of Infydelytie
Sowyll I destroye, in the fearcenes of my [...]tyre▪
All sectes of errour, with theyr enormytie
Whiche hath rysen out of that iniquytie
For as it is sayde, that my hande hath no set
Shall vp by the roote, no power maye it let.
The Apostle Iohan, in the Apo [...]alyps doth saye
He sawe [...] newe he euen, and a newe earth appearynge
The olde earth and se, were taken cleane awaye
That heauen is mannes fayth, that earth his vnderstandynge.
Whom we haue renued, by our most sexxet work ynge
The olde cauered earth, exylynge with the see
Whiche is supersticion, and Infydelytie.
A newe Hierusalem, the sayde Iohn also se
As a beautyfull [...] to her husbande
Our [...]ue faythfull churche is that same fayre Cytie
Whō we [...], by the power of our ryght hand
As a s [...]ouse to Christ, in euery Christen lande
[...] the [...]ecres, of Babylonicall poperye
That [...] in [...]y [...]yte, maye walke to our glorye.
[...] thre l [...]wes, for you wyll I [...]lere also
Of suche infections, as by Infydelytie
Ye haue reciyued, that ye with he [...] maye go
Declarynge the wayes, of Christen lybertie
[...], she may take, [...]
[Page]For her onely God, and be our people styll
In our lawes walkynge, accordynge to our wyll.
Omnes simue.
At your commaundement, we are most blessed lorde,
Deus pater.
Approche nyghar than, and ye shall be restorde.
Thou lawe of Naturewe fyrste begyn with the
Restorynge the agayne, to thy first purytie
Auoyde Idolatrye, Auoyde vyle Sodomye.
We charge ye no more, this lawe to putryfye
Kepe styll that same hart for a sygne perpetuall
That thou wert written, in mannes hart firste of all.
Thou lawe of Moses▪ gyue me that vayle from the
No longer shalt thou, neyther blynde nor croked be
Hence thou Ambycion, and cut sed Coueytousn [...]s
I here banysche you, from this lawe euer doubtles
Lose not those tables, whiche are a token ture
That thou in the flesche, shalt euer more contynue.
Thou lawe of the Gospell, thoughe thou be last of all
In operation yet, thou art the pryacypall
From the I exyle, hypoetysye and false doctryne
With all that depende, vpon the papisticall [...]yne
Reserue the came boke, for a sygne of heauenly poure
For ye boke thou art, that Iohn frō headuē dyd deuoure.
Nature lex.
Euerlastyng prayse, to thy gloryous maiestie.
Moseh lex,
Our heauenly gouernour, great is thy gracious pytie,
Christi lex.
Of mankynde thou art, the eternall felycitie.
Nature lex.
[Page]Nowe leauest thy seruauntes, in thy perpetuall peace
To do the seruyce, from hence, wyll we notcease.
Moseh lex.
For your eyes haue se [...]e, what thou hast nowe prepared
For thy peoples health, which hath benhere declared.
Christi lex.
A lyght thou hast sent, whiche is thy ioyous Gospell
To the consolacion of the howse of Israell.
Nature lex.
In reioyce of this, make we some melodye.
Moseh lex.
The name of our God, to prayse and magnyfye.
Christi lex.
I assent therto, and wyll synge very gladly.
Hic ad Dei gloria [...] canta [...]unt. In exitu Israel de Aegipto, [...]l aliud simile.
Deus Pater,
Nowe haue we destroyed, the kyngdome of Babylon
And throwen the great whore, into the bottomles pyt
Restorynge agayae, the true fayth and relygyon
In the Christen churche, as we haue thought it fyt
Depurynge these lawes, so to contynue it
Man is our creature, and hath grace in our syght
To dwell with hym now, is our whole hartes delyght.
Man is our people, his God we are agayne
With hym wyll we haue, contynuall resydence
A waye wyll we wype, from all sorowe and payne
He shall no longer dyspayre, for his offence
Nor haue in his soule, any carefuldoubte of conscience
The olde popyshnes is past, whiche was dampuacion
We haue nowe re [...]ued, our Christen congregation.
[Page]Stande forth Christen faith, and take our aduertismēt
We here appoynt the, to gouerne our congregacion
Se thou do nothynge, without the admonysshement
Of these thre lawes here, Imprynt theyr declaration
Of my swete promyses, and than make thou relation
To my folke agayne, that they maye walke to me
Without popysshe dreames, in a perfyght lybertie.
Fid [...] Christiana.
Most heauenly maker, in it thoudoest cōmaunde me
Euermore wyll I, full prompt and dylygent be.
Deus Pater.
Thou lawe of Nature, shalt [...]ache man God to knowe
And thatto refuse, wherby any yll maye growe.
Nature lex.
From this your precepte, shall I not varye I crowe▪
Deus Pater.
Teache thou hym also, to worshyp one God about
And his proper neyber, to persecute with loue.
Moseh lex.
I hope blessed lorde, to do as me shall behoue.
Deus Pater.
And thou shalt teache hym, to loue God in his hart.
And those to forgyue, by whom he sufferethsmarte.
Christi lex.
In your appoyntmentes, wyll I do also my part.
Deus Pater.
Worke thou in the harte, a knowledge necessarye
In the flesshe, worke thou, by outwarde Ceremonye.
Change thou notto the sp [...]et▪ [...] workyn [...]s of these [...]wo
And cause our people, in a perfyght waye to go
Take hede christē fayth, to the techynges of these thre
And moue our people, to walke in the verytie.
[Page]The promyses we made, in all these thre are Gospell
We wolde thou shouldest so, to our Congregation tell
Our eu [...]rlastynge b [...]estynge, be with you euer more.
Omnes simul.
To thy swete name lord, be prayse & perpetuall honour▪
Fides Christiana.
It hath pleased God, to put me in this offyce
To gouerne his churche, and christen Congregation
And theri [...] do, as ye shall me entyce
Gyue me I praye you, suche holsome exhortation
As maye be to Man, aclere edyfication
And I wyll be glad, to take your adurttyshment
As it shall become, any chylde obedyent.
Christi lex.
Ye speake it full wele, than marke what shalbe sayde
And dylygently, looke that it be obeyed.
Nature lex.
The effecte of me, is for to knowe the lorde
Euerlastynge, stronge, most gracyous and godlye
And as touchynge Man, to haue fraternall concorde
F [...]r to norysshe, and to do non iniurye
To [...] [...]uenasites made, and loue true matrymonye
T [...]ese noble effectes, so temper you in Man.
That them to fulfyll, he do the best he can.
Moseh lex.
The effect of me, is for to worshyp the lorde
As one God alone, and to flye from Idolat [...]ye
Not to flee nor stele, nor yet to beare false recorde
To shewe what is synne, and to seke the remedye
Publyque peace to hold▪ and sore to punysshe the gyltie
From these good effectes, se that man neuer soo [...]rue
Thau shall he be sure, that God wyll hym preserue.
Christi lex.
The effecte of me, is for to worshyp the lorde
In the inwarde spyryte, and to fauoure frende & eumye
And in all poyntes els, with Gods wyll to accorde
To preache remyssyon, to saue and to iustyfye
In Christ all to se [...]elyfe, iustyce, peace and mer [...]y [...]
These heauenly effectes, in man so incorporate
That he maye in spyryte, be newly regenerate.
Fides Christiana.
More swete than honye, are your thre exhortacions
And regestred they be, in my memoryall
Nowe wyll I forwarde, to all the Christen nations
And se in effecte, these lawes obserued all
To the abolyshment, of the dreames papisticall
Nowe the lyght is come, the darkenes dyeth awaye
I truste in the lorde, men wyll walke in the daye.
Good Christen people, to these thre lawes applye
First knowe that ye haue, a lyuynge God aboue
Than do hym honour, and his name magnyfye
Worshyp hym in spryte, as the Gospell you doth moue
Than obey your quen [...], lyke as shall you behoue
For she in her lyfe, that lorde doth represent
To sauegard [...] of the iust, and fynners punysshement.
Se that ye regarde, suche lawes as she doth make
For they are of God, as Salomon doth reporte
Of these lawes doubteles, those lawes theyr groundynges take
To the publyque wealth, to gyue ayde, strength, and comforte
For preseruacion, of all the christen sort
In no case folowe, the wayes of [...]eygnolde Pole
To his dampnacion, he doubtles playeth the foole.
[Page]Haue [...] due respecte, vnto your countrey natyue
Whiche hath brought ye vp, and gyuen ye noryshment
Euen from your cradelles, to these dayes nutrytyue
Do that ye maye do, to her wealth and preferment
Mynyster to bet, no hatefull detryment
A dogge to his frende, wyll neuer be vnlouynge
Let reason in ye, not lose his naturall workynge.
Nature lex.
Who lyueth without lawe, shall perysshe without lawe
And therfore we haue, thre lawes to you descrybed
That after theyr lyues, ye shulde in your lyuyng drawe
We haue also shewed, howe they haue ben corrupted
By fowle Idolaters, and Sodomytes poluted.
By coueytous preestes, and by ambytyous prelates
Hypocrytall fryers, false Doetours and false Cutates
Mose [...] lex,
Who hath restored, these same thyr lawes agayne
But your late Iosias, and valeaunt kynge Henrye
No prynce afore hym, toke euer yet suche payne
Frō Englāde to banysshe, Idolatrye & fowle Sodomye
Coueytousnes, Ambycion, false Doctryne & hypocresye
It was he that brought, Christes verytie to lyght
Whan he put the pope, with his fylthynes to flyght.
Christi lex.
Frō dāpnable darkenesse, as my brother here doth saye
He hath delyuered, this realme of Englande godlye
Bryngynge his Subiectes, into the true path waye
Of theyr soules sauegarde▪ if they now folow it wysely
And lefte them he hath, the same waye styll to fortyfye
His noble sonne Edwarde, suche a kynge of God electe
As questionles, whyle helyued, did perfourme it in effect
Fides christiana.
Praye we to the lorde, for the longe contynuaunce
Of Quene Elizabeth, in this worldes habytacion
And that of her Noblesse, she haue true mayntenaunce
In the pryncyples of this most worthy foundacion
[...]hat she maye to Christ, brynge vs from desolation
And for her noble Counsellours, to god let vs all praye
That in the true fayth, theyr hertes directe he maye.
Amen.
The ten comaundementes bryefelye.
Loue thy Lorde God. Sweare thou no othe
Thy sobbeth kepe. Please thy fryndes bothe.
Wytnes none yll. Holde no mannes wyfe.
Brybe mannes good. Slee not with knyfe
Wysshe no mannes house. Nor Oxe nor Asse
As thou wylte haue. Do thou lyke case.
¶ These Cōmaundementes nede not be rehersed in the Enterlude.
¶ A songe vpon Benedictus: Compyled by Iohn Bale.
BEnedictus dominus, Deus Israel Which hath ouer throwne, the migh tye Idoll Bell
The false God of Rome, by power of the Gospell
And hathe prepared from the depe lake of hell.
Redēptionem ple [...]i [...] su [...].
[...]t [...]rexit cornu, of mercye, health and grace
That cruell Tyraunt, nowe clearely to de face
Whose blodye kyngdome, dymynyssheth apace
By the worde of God, whiche lately hath take place.
In [...]omo Dauid, pueti sui▪
Sicut Iocutus est, the Lorde celestiall
That Romys she Antichrist, is lyke to haue a fall
With his whole rable, of sectes dyabolycall
And nowe the nombre, wyll florysshe ouer all
Prop [...]etatum eiu [...].
Salutem ex inimicis, nowe we maye dayly heare
The enemyes of Christ, with hym doth wytnesse beare
Saule is become a Paule, and preaching euery wheare
Nowe may we receyue, most heauenly wholsom geare
De manu corum qui [...]d [...]t nos.
Ad faciendam misericodiam
The sonne of our God, from his hyghe gloryecam
To redeme the synne, of the chyldren of Adam
And to remembre, to faythfull Abraham
Testamentisui sancti.
Ad iusiurandum, whiche God hath made afore
Unto our fathers he wyll kepe euermore
Promysed he hath if we regarde his lore
For sakynge the Pope, with his dampnable store
Daturum se nobis.
Ut sine timore, from Romysh tyrauntes fre
The lorde graunt vs grace, that we maye speakers b [...]
Of his holy worde, and therin to agree
That in the Gospell and Christen lybertie
Seruiam [...] i [...]i.
In sanctitate, and purenes of lyfe
Let vs nowe trauayle, both mayden man and wyfe
All tyghtrous doynges, in vs be euer ryfe
That we perseuet, without debate orstryfe
Omnibu [...] dicbus nostri [...].
Tupuer Propheta, elected of the lorde
Our Quene Elizabeth, to haue Goddes lawe restorde
[Page]Folowest Iosias, therofto take recorde
In all thy doynges, and in Goddes holy worde
Patate via [...]iu [...].
Ad dandam scicentiam, for mens helth and saue garde
Christes holy Gospell, by the is frely hearde
Wherin doth cousyst, theyr lyfe and full rewarde
With preseruacion, from daungerous i [...]oba [...]dye.
Peccatorum corum.
P [...]t viscera misericordie
Christ our dere mayster, vs dayly ouer [...]
Least we here perysshe, in our iniquytie
Our mediatour, continuallye is he.
Ori [...]ns ex afto.
Illuminare, swete lorde we the desyre
To menin darkenes, and in the popysshe myre
Let not his baggage, thy faythfull seruauntes tyre
But vs delyuer, from them and from hell fyre.
In viam pacis.
Amen.
THVS ENDETH this Cōmedye, concernynge thre Lawes, of Nature, Moyses, and Christ, corrupted by the Sodomytes, Pharysies, and Papistes most wicked. Compyled by Iohn Bale.